Soccer Headline

Friday October 9, 2009No. 14 Florida Soccer Defeats Alabama 2-0

A goal in the opening 10 and final 10 minutes of the match
gave the No. 14 University of Florida soccer team (9-4-1, 3-1-1 SEC) a 2-0 win
over Alabama (5-5-1, 1-2-1 SEC) Friday evening in front of a crowd of 1,059 at
the James G. Pressly Stadium.

Florida scored early in the opening half when Florida’s top two point leaders
connected in the box. Lindsay Thompson scored from 10 yards off the pass
from freshman Brooke Thigpen.

“Brooke
Thigpen got the ball wide and she passed me the ball between their two
defenders,” Thompson said. “I just got the ball, turned and shot back post.”

Friday’s Scores in SEC Action

Florida def. Alabama 2-0

Arkansas def. Vanderbilt 2-0

South Carolina def. Auburn 1-0 OT

Mississippi def. Georgia 1-0

Tennessee def. Mississippi State 3-0

Kentucky def. LSU 1-0

It was Thompson’s eighth goal of the season, setting her
career-high for goals in a season. She has turned in a goal in three of Florida’s five SEC matches in 2009.

The Gators’
final goal started when senior Lauren Hyde brought the ball from the Florida half to just above the Alabama box. She saw freshman Erika Tymrak open on
the left and sent the ball ahead where Tymrak finished it with a six-yard
tap-in.

“Lauren
gave me the most perfect ball – it was so perfect that it probably would have
been hard for me to miss it,” Tymrak said. “She basically dribbled it the whole
field and I was open, so she slotted it to me. I tried to stay composed and
place it in at the corner.”

The goal
was her fourth of the season and second of the last four matches.

The shutout
was Florida’s first since the 3-0 win over Florida International on Aug. 28. UF
Head Coach Becky Burleigh liked the defensive performance Friday, but
saw room for improvement from the Gator attack.

It’s been a while (since we’ve had a shutout). In terms of a
defensive performance, that was very dominating. I felt that they had very little
offensive threat. In terms of our offensive performance, it was a little disappointing.
There just was not enough execution in the services and in the runs in the box,”
Burleigh said. “I’m really pleased with how we controlled the match and took
charge of the match.”

The Tide were without their goals and points leader junior
Victoria Frederick, who was sidelined Friday with an illness.

Sunday’s match will be broadcast on SUN Sports with the
Voice of the Gators Mick Hubert and Matthew Stubbington calling the action. The
match can also be heard live on AM 850 WRUF or via simulcast on
Gainesville/Ocala Cox Cable channel 946 and www.GatorZone.com. Adam
Schick and Mike Gillespie will cover the action Sunday.